Upcoming Events

Newsletters (8)

A NOTE FROM PRESIDENT TYLER

Thank you very much for the opportunity to be president of this club. Gordie Lauder recently informed me that I have been a member for 27 years- I guess it was 'about time' for me to serve in office. This is a complex time for hobbyists and aeromodeling. New technologies have given us new ways to enjoy our hobby, but our government is trying to cope with the task of regulating "unmanned aerial vehicles"- leaving many of us feeling stuck in the middle.

The next few years will be very interesting for our hobby, the AMA, and this club. I do not believe that our hobby will go away. I don't believe that the FAA is interested in taking away our model airplanes or helicopters. As a club, we need to stay informed on the latest updates from the FAA and AMA, and other news outlets. We also may need to be wary of some of the "information" being shared in the media, online, etc. Then we can, as a club, make sure we are able to enjoy our hobby while remaining compliant with any regulations.

When I was 15, I would ride my bike down to the HCRC field and marvel at everything I saw there: 40-sized sport aerobatic planes, scale warbirds, pylon racers, the occasional helicopter. A few guys were competing in pattern back then. Some of us started playing with electrics, low on power and filled with nicad batteries. Over the years, our club has welcomed new hobbyists and has accepted new types of model aircraft. Whatever the latest new 'thing' was, someone in HCRC was into it. I believe this history will serve us well over the next year or two.

Again, thank you very much for this opportunity. Lets not forget that this is a hobby and we are supposed to be having fun!

The annual scale fly-in will take place this year on Saturday and Sunday, August 19 & 20 beginning around 9 AM each day at the flying field on Honeypot Road in Hadley, MA. The format for this year's event has changed. Saturday's event will be limited to fixed wing scale model planes only. This is a non-competitive fun event to show off scale model aircraft.

Sunday will be an open fun-fly type event for all fixed wing model planes including scale, sport and non-traditional type fixed wing aircraft.

There will be a $10 landing fee of all pilots on Saturday only. There will be no charge for the Sunday free-for-all.

Pilots will be required to produce proof of AMA membership.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE

Flight instruction is free and by appointment only. All are welcome to arrange for a demo flight or scheduled lessons. Call:

The FAA has passed it's new regulations covering ALL MODEL AIRCRAFT. Every model pilot is to register with the FAA. I am posting a link to the government website. More information will be coming. It looks like registration will be FREE for a while. So, if you are going to register, do it soon and avoid the fees.

Buy/Sell/Trade

Whiteboard

400 feet AGL Limit

SCHEDULED EVENTS​

Business meeting Thursday, October 5, 2017 7PM at the VFW, Florence, MA

Remember, this is the first indoor meeting of the winter season.

Flight Training

We pride ourselves on being a training club. We have a few volunteer instructors to help new fledgling pilots to learn the skills. Instruction is by appointment only. Call: Andre (413) 786-9735

Both Andre and Ed are having mobility problems i.e. knees. We need some more experienced pilots who would like to be flight instructors. Instructions are by appointment only now so it is easier to schedule lessons. You only instruct when you can and can set your own schedule. If you can help us out please contact Tyler West, Pres. or stop by at a meeting. The club really needs instructors.

Ed (413) 532-7071

Andre (413) 786-9735

Tyler (413) 588-7440 or tylerwest36@hotmail.com

NEW FAA REGISTRATION REGULATIONS

It appears that the FAA has rescinded the registration requirements for "drones". Word is that there is no further requirement for federal registration.